In an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal, Kuester's parents said he has a long history of delusional behavior.

WISN 12 News reporter Terry Sater spoke with Waukesha police about their interaction with Kuester just days before the crime.

Kuester had contact with Waukesha police the Thursday before three people were killed in southwest Wisconsin.

He had returned to an animal shelter in Waukesha to reclaim his dead dog and threatened workers there.

He was jailed on a prior warrant, and Waukesha police said they've reviewed the incident and still believe they acted appropriately.

Police said when deciding whether they can hold someone for a mental health evaluation, the arresting officer assesses whether the person they're taking into custody is a threat to themselves or others.

"Granted, right now, it's easy to look back and say, 'Of course he was a threat.' But how at that time, was the officer armed with any information that would give him that. But of course he couldn't predict that future," Waukesha police Capt. Ron Oremus said. "Unfortunately, it would be great if he could, right? He could have stopped something bad from happening. But in this case, there's no way he would have known that."

The connection between the Layfayette County victims and Kuester is unknown.